Ancient Roman Time Machine: Final Project: Problem in Rome: Romans were not paying enough taxes to begin with, so after the Roman government started to run low on tax money, they could no longer afford to provide public works for the city. When this problem, combined with the other many the city was facing, Rome crumbled!
Roman Tax Money Shortage: - Rome's taxes during the Roman Republic was only 1% of the earned income, and in times of war, climb only as high as 3% - Tax money was getting used for the mercenaries, public services, welfare systems, defense against other tribes, along with more minute things, like having gladiator fights free to watch by all citizens - Since the taxes on citizens were so low, they got used up very quickly, by the government - They needed a way to get more money, but without causing the citizens to get unhappy, which may lead to violent and destructive protests. - After the low taxes it was hard for the Roman government to keep providing welfare to those citizens who didn't have enough money or resources to provide for their families and pay taxes. - It became even harder and more welfare was necessary with unemployment and slaves taking the jobs from the Romans. Inflation was also hard to deal with. - The armies on the frontiers of Rome were actually spending ore money than the amount of tax money from local areas! - The government forced citizens to work harder so they could pay more taxes, but this put stress on the citizens, which meant they were more prone to diseases which spread and could lead to death. - Taxes were determined by assessments of wealth and property. - SPQR means for the senate and people of Rome - Silver and gold mines in spain created lots of money for the Roman senate - Tax farmers were the people that would collect the taxes from Roman citizens. - Eventually the Roman government was spending all of it's money on military, and things like welfare, along with public works. - By the 4th century. the Roman economy and tax structure was so bad it caused farmers to leave their land and take welfare benefits. - There were also import and export taxes, crop taxes (1/10 of grain crop and 1/5 of wine, fruit, and olive oil), sales tax, property tax, emergency tax, etc. - Some of the public works in Rome included aqueducts, public bathrooms, sewage systems, roads, baths, army, etc.
- Some experts say that what happened in Rome (The fall of Rome) is likely to happen to the United States. The experts say this is caused by taxes.
Problem Today: Taxes are to high to afford and we don't have enough taxes to pay of national debt, public works, etc. and we need to balance the amount of taxes with the amount the government spends.
United States Tax Money Shortage:
- The government needs more tax money than is coming in by citizens. - To stop this they raise taxes to the point where families can no longer afford it. - The national debt is very high. - The national spending of tax money is creating a deficit because the government is spending faster than the raising of our taxes can compensate for. - Taxes are growing at a faster rate than people's salary raises/ cost of living raises are, which causes a hardship on American families because then there is less money for housing, food, etc. - The US doesn't have enough tax money to pay off the national dept, let alone this years spending plans. - To afford everything (government spending for this year and national dept.) we need $16.5 trillion dollars which we can't even come close to paying if we raise taxes and collect revenues. - When the government prints more money to help pay off debt. and to make up for the tax money we need to come in, inflation occurs then we are in a bigger problem then we were in before. - The average tax increase in the USA was $3,446 due to the fiscal cliff. - Tax brackets can help show how much tax to pay based on the annual income.
This Website shows the USA's National debt!
Expert Contacts:
Email to Geoffroy de Clippel:
Dear Mr. Geoffroy de Clippel,
Hello, my name is Margy and I am in seventh grade in Cincinnati Ohio. Our class is doing a project on Ancient Rome, and if and how we could have solved the Roman crisis if we went back in time. Seeing that you were a professor in Economics at Brown University I was wondering if you could help me by answering a few questions about tax shortages in the present day:
1. What are the average tax rates for a middle class family? 2. What are the taxes used for in general, other than schools and services? 3. Has the government tried to fix the problem of tax shortages, and if so how? 4. What are some major projects that tax money is needed, but due to the shortage, they have either postponed or cancelled it? Thank you so much for all of your time, and I appreciate you answering these questions. It would be great to get your input about present day tax shortages!
Final Project:
Problem in Rome: Romans were not paying enough taxes to begin with, so after the Roman government started to run low on tax money, they could no longer afford to provide public works for the city. When this problem, combined with the other many the city was facing, Rome crumbled!
Roman Tax Money Shortage:
- Rome's taxes during the Roman Republic was only 1% of the earned income, and in times of war, climb only as high as 3%
- Tax money was getting used for the mercenaries, public services, welfare systems, defense against other tribes, along with more minute things, like having gladiator fights free to watch by all citizens
- Since the taxes on citizens were so low, they got used up very quickly, by the government
- They needed a way to get more money, but without causing the citizens to get unhappy, which may lead to violent and destructive protests.
- After the low taxes it was hard for the Roman government to keep providing welfare to those citizens who didn't have enough money or resources to provide for their families and pay taxes.
- It became even harder and more welfare was necessary with unemployment and slaves taking the jobs from the Romans. Inflation was also hard to deal with.
- The armies on the frontiers of Rome were actually spending ore money than the amount of tax money from local areas!
- The government forced citizens to work harder so they could pay more taxes, but this put stress on the citizens, which meant they were more prone to diseases which spread and could lead to death.
- Taxes were determined by assessments of wealth and property.
- SPQR means for the senate and people of Rome
- Silver and gold mines in spain created lots of money for the Roman senate
- Tax farmers were the people that would collect the taxes from Roman citizens.
- Eventually the Roman government was spending all of it's money on military, and things like welfare, along with public works.
- By the 4th century. the Roman economy and tax structure was so bad it caused farmers to leave their land and take welfare benefits.
- There were also import and export taxes, crop taxes (1/10 of grain crop and 1/5 of wine, fruit, and olive oil), sales tax, property tax, emergency tax, etc.
- Some of the public works in Rome included aqueducts, public bathrooms, sewage systems, roads, baths, army, etc.
- Some experts say that what happened in Rome (The fall of Rome) is likely to happen to the United States. The experts say this is caused by taxes.
Problem Today: Taxes are to high to afford and we don't have enough taxes to pay of national debt, public works, etc. and we need to balance the amount of taxes with the amount the government spends.
United States Tax Money Shortage:
- The government needs more tax money than is coming in by citizens.
- To stop this they raise taxes to the point where families can no longer afford it.
- The national debt is very high.
- The national spending of tax money is creating a deficit because the government is spending faster than the raising of our taxes can compensate for.
- Taxes are growing at a faster rate than people's salary raises/ cost of living raises are, which causes a hardship on American families because then there is less money for housing, food, etc.
- The US doesn't have enough tax money to pay off the national dept, let alone this years spending plans.
- To afford everything (government spending for this year and national dept.) we need $16.5 trillion dollars which we can't even come close to paying if we raise taxes and collect revenues.
- When the government prints more money to help pay off debt. and to make up for the tax money we need to come in, inflation occurs then we are in a bigger problem then we were in before.
- The average tax increase in the USA was $3,446 due to the fiscal cliff.
- Tax brackets can help show how much tax to pay based on the annual income.
Expert Contacts:
Email to Geoffroy de Clippel:
Dear Mr. Geoffroy de Clippel,
Hello, my name is Margy and I am in seventh grade in Cincinnati Ohio. Our class is doing a project on Ancient Rome, and if and how we could have solved the Roman crisis if we went back in time. Seeing that you were a professor in Economics at Brown University I was wondering if you could help me by answering a few questions about tax shortages in the present day:
1. What are the average tax rates for a middle class family? 2. What are the taxes used for in general, other than schools and services? 3. Has the government tried to fix the problem of tax shortages, and if so how? 4. What are some major projects that tax money is needed, but due to the shortage, they have either postponed or cancelled it?
Thank you so much for all of your time, and I appreciate you answering these questions. It would be great to get your input about present day tax shortages!
Thanks so much,Margy Stringfellow
Citations:
"Ancient Rome :: Roman Society." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
"Taxes in the Roman Empire." Roman Taxes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
"U.S. National Debt Clock." U.S. National Debt Clock. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2013.